Zambia woman dies at the Airport in Addis Ababa

Zambian Ambassador to Ethiopia, Susan Sikaneta
A 46-YEAR-OLD Zambian woman has died at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia while transiting from Shanghai in China to Zambia on Saturday.
Zambian Ambassador to Ethiopia, Susan Sikaneta, disclosed this at Bole International Airport on Saturday night and named the woman as Linda Kabanda, a businesswoman of Mufulira.

Ambassador Sikaneta said the mission has informed the Foreign Affairs permanent secretary Ambassador Chalwe Lombe about the death to help facilitate transportation of the body to Zambia.

Ms Sikaneta said Ms Kabanda, who was accompanied by her brother, Lewis Asumwishe, complained of not feeling well as the plane landed at Bole International Airport for their connection to Zambia.

“She got out of the plane onto the shuttle bus to get to the main building for her connection but complained of feeling unwell,” ambassador Sikaneta said. “She was later taken to the airport clinic and was even put on an oxygen machine to help her breath properly, but while at the clinic, she was certified dead.”

Ms Sikaneta said the deceased’s husband and other relatives have been informed of the death. She expressed the mission’s condolences to the family.

Ms Kabanda’s sister, Gift Asumwishe, said the family is devastated by the sudden death. She said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that Ms Kabanda was in good health when she left for China two weeks ago.

Ms Asumwishe said, however, that her sister complained of feeling ill while in China four days ago.

“I did not see her at the time she was leaving for China, but I know that she was in good health, and as far as I know, she did not have any medical condition like high blood pressure.

“It was only the day before yesterday [Friday] that she complained of feeling less energy in her body, and now to our shock, we just heard that she had collapsed and died in Ethiopia,” a teary Ms Asumwishe said.

Funeral for the late Ms Kabanda, who is survived by a husband, Robert and four children, is at her residence, 222 Jomo Avenue in Mufulira.

I wouldn’t rule out an embolism. These are very common for people who fly on long hauls, those are flights of more than 10 hours a stretch. A psotmortem can give the family closure. May Her Soul Rest In Perfect peace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Sad to lose a life this way. It is painful. Wish. Family’s strength during this sad time. Hope it is not mixture of “Chinese food” with some drugs. Shanghai is full of Zambian women and quite an expensive place to do business there. And no sikaneta is STILL working?yaba this sikisite family retiring age, kaya!